Metal fixing ring capable of being screwed for fixing a dispensing device on a container

ABSTRACT

A metal fixing ring is disclosed, which is capable of being screwed for fixing a dispensing device, such as a pump or a valve, on a container comprising a neck and containing a product to be dispensed. The metal fixing ring, which comprises an internal thread co-operating with an external thread provided on the container neck, further comprises a plastic material coating on the internal surface that comprises the internal thread.

[0001] The invention relates to devices for attachment of distributioncomponents on containers and more particularly to rings which can bescrewed on.

[0002] In order to attach distribution components, such as pumps orvalves, on containers holding product which is to be distributed, anumber of different techniques are available. Thus, it is possible touse a crimping cap which is intended to be crimped on the neck of thecontainer. As an alternative, it is also possible to attach adistribution component by means of a fastening ring, for example, a ringwith tabs allowing it to be snapped on the neck of the container. Such aring which can be snapped on is disclosed specifically in the documentEP-0,359,605. According to yet another known technique, the distributioncomponent is attached on the neck of a container by means of a ringwhich can be screwed on, the neck of the container having externalthreads which cooperate with the internal threads of the ring which canbe screwed on. The invention relates more particularly to this lasttechnique.

[0003] In the field of perfumery, but also in other fields, thecontainers, which can be produced out of any suitable materials, arehowever generally produced out of glass or sometimes metal. The use ofscrewable rings for attaching distribution components, pumps or valvespresents a certain number of problems in the case of metal rings andparticularly rings made of anodized aluminum.

[0004] On the one hand, because it is a matter of friction of a hardcoating against a hard material, problems of irregularity of friction orseizing are created.

[0005] Moreover, the stresses are not very well distributed over thethreads of the neck of the container, so that these threads risk beingbroken during assembly.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a risk of unscrewing of the ring in thecase of vibrations, for example, during transport.

[0007] On the other hand, the size tolerances of the neck of thecontainer, of the threads on the neck of the container or of the metalring are very difficult to compensate for. Since the productdistributors of this type are produced in very large numbers, saidproblems of tolerance compensation, which can appear during mounting ofthe ring on the neck of the container, prevent effective and economicalmounting from the standpoint of time as well as cost.

[0008] The present invention therefore aims to provide a device formounting of a distribution component on containers, such as a screwablering, which does not have the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0009] The present invention therefore aims in particular to provide ametal fastening ring which can be screwed on, which essentiallyeliminates the problems of friction during screwing of the ring on theneck of the container.

[0010] The present invention also aims to provide a metal fastening ringwhich can be screwed on, which essentially eliminates the risk ofbreaking of the threads of the neck of the container during screwing ofthe ring.

[0011] The present invention furthermore aims to provide a metalfastening ring which can be screwed on, which does not risk coming looseaccidentally because of vibrations and/or for which manualscrewing/unscrewing is facilitated.

[0012] The present invention furthermore aims to provide a metalfastening ring which can be screwed on, which makes it possible tocompensate for the manufacturing tolerances of the glass necks.

[0013] The present invention also aims to provide a metal fastening ringwhich can be screwed on, which is simple and inexpensive to manufactureand which makes it possible to limit assembly costs.

[0014] The invention therefore relates to a metal fastening ring whichcan be screwed on for attaching a distribution component, such as a pumpor a valve, on a container which has a neck and which contains productto be dispensed, said ring having internal threads which cooperate withexternal threads provided on said neck of the container, said ringhaving a plastic material coating on the interior annular wall which hassaid threads.

[0015] Preferably, said plastic material coating covers the entireinterior annular wall of said ring.

[0016] Advantageously, said plastic material coating has a uniformthickness.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, said plastic coating hasa thickness less than approximately 0.2 mm.

[0018] Preferably, said plastic coating is a polyolefin film.

[0019] In particular, said polyolefin film is a polypropylene film or apolyethylene film, which are known for their resistance to solvents.

[0020] The container, and particularly its neck, can be made out ofglass or metal.

[0021] Thus, by plasticizing the threads of the ring, this ring nolonger has a hard coating on the surface, and during its mounting on theneck of the container, which is generally made of glass or metal, aseizing problem is no longer created. Likewise, the stresses on thethreads of the containers are better distributed, and these threads nolonger risk being broken. Furthermore, thanks to the thickness of saidplastic material coating, problems of tolerance in the manufacturing ofthe neck, and particularly of its threads, can be compensated for bysaid plastic coating of the ring.

[0022] The main advantage of the present invention lies in the fact thatthe absence of the seizing problem, the tolerance problem and the riskof breaking the threads of the container makes possible a safe andeffective assembly of the distributors in question, and preventsdefective assembly from occurring because of said problems. This resultsin a lowering of the costs of production and assembly of saiddistributor. Another advantage is that the plastic coating ensuresbetter fastening of the ring on the neck of the container, and the ringno longer risks coming loose because of vibrations, for example, duringtransport. Moreover, manual screwing/unscrewing is facilitated and mademore pleasant by the presence of the plastic coating.

[0023] The invention therefore also makes it possible to produce ascrewable fastening ring which by itself ensures a perfect attachment ofthe distribution component. In particular, the ring of the inventionmakes possible more economical manufacturing and assembly because it isno longer necessary, as is the case, for example, with rings which canbe snapped on, to provide an additional element (hoop, external ring,etc.) in order to avoid unsnapping.

[0024] The plastic coating can, of course, be applied in any knownmanner, and the plastic material used can be of any suitable type.Advantageous materials are the polyolefins, such as polypropylene orpolyethylene, which are preferably applied in the form of a thin film onthe metal, which can be aluminum or tinned iron. The shaping of thepiece can be done either before or after the deposition of the plasticfilm on the metal. Advantageously, the thickness of the coating isuniform and less than 0.1 mm, so that the above-mentioned advantages areobtained in an optimal manner.

1. Metal fastening ring which can be screwed on for attaching adistribution component, such as a pump or a valve, on a container whichhas a neck and which contains product which is to be dispensed, saidring having internal threads which cooperate with external threadsprovided on said neck of the container, characterized by the fact thatsaid ring has a plastic material coating on the interior annular wallwhich has said threads.
 2. Fastening ring according to claim 1 , inwhich said plastic material coating covers the entire interior annularwall of said ring.
 3. Fastening ring according to claim 1 or 2 , inwhich said plastic material coating has a uniform thickness. 4.Fastening ring according to any one of the preceding claims, in whichsaid plastic coating has a thickness of less than approximately 0.2 mm.5. Fastening ring according to any one of the preceding claims, in whichsaid plastic coating is a polyolefin film.
 6. Fastening ring accordingto claim 5 , in which said polyolefin film is a polypropylene film or apolyethylene film.
 7. Fastening ring according to any one of thepreceding claims, in which said neck of the container is glass. 8.Fastening ring according to any one of claims 1-7, in which said neck ofthe container is metal.